Dr. Matt
Streb

POLS 100: American Government and Politics

Fall 2005

T and R, 2:00-3:15

Music Building 202

_____________________________________________________________

Course Description:A day cannot pass when you do not feel the effects of the
American Government.The government
plays a role in everything from determining how fast we can drive to work to
making sure we are not attacked by a foreign power.This course is designed to give a broad overview of all of the
players in our governmental system.We
will study the roles of everyone from George Bush and Dennis Hastert to you and
me.

First, we will start by examining
the “backbone” of American Government: the Constitution.We will discuss why our founders decided on
the type of constitution that they did, why it has lasted for so long, and what
rights it provides us.Second, we
analyze the major institutions of the government.We will learn how the presidency, Congress, courts, and
bureaucracy work individually and also how they interact.Also, we will discuss why some say the media
is the “fourth branch” of government and what influence, if any, it has on the
public.Next, we turn to other actors
and influences on the government.Why
is the general public so important in maintaining our system of
government?What are the roles of political
parties and interest groups?Finally,
we study voting and elections.We will
examine a host of questions: Why is voter turnout so low?What factors influence how people vote?How does a disinterested public make
rational voting decisions?What is the
role of money?

The goal of this course is to make
each student understand how American politics (and politics in general) relates
to his/her everyday life.Whether your
future is taking you into business or law, into public administration or education,
or the arts or the sciences, politics will touch your lives in many ways.Students should leave this course with a
solid understanding of how our government works as well as of contemporary
political debates that often have large impacts on our lives.While the general public often holds a
negative opinion of our government, I think you will see just how dynamic and
exciting American politics really is.

Grading: You will receive several
grades over the course of the semester.Two midterm exams (Tuesday, September
27th and Thursday, October 27th) and a final exam(Tuesday, December 6th at 2 PM) are
required.Each exam is worth roughly 25% of your final grade.The final will not be cumulative.The exams will be composed of an essay question,
four identification terms and five multiple-choice questions.I will distribute review sheets to the class
including possible identification terms or essay questions.

You will also be required to write a 6-8-page paper
on current a political controversy (I will give you several from which to
chose).The paper is worth roughly 25% of your final grade.The paper assignment will be discussed in
greater detail during class.The
assignment is due on Thursday, November
10th.

PAC Money:Political Action Committees are organizations
that provide candidates with campaign money in order to help a person become
elected or to help influence legislation.Just as PACs are said to “buy” votes (although we will discuss whether
this claim is true), you will have the opportunity to “buy” your grade.Students’ PACs may donate up to $5,000.The way you accumulate PAC money is quite
simple.For each class you attend, your
“PAC” will give me $150.Attendance can
earn you as much as $3,900 (26 class periods, not including the two midterms).You
have to be in class when I take attendance to earn PAC money.You are expected to be in class on
time.Anyone who is late will not
receive PAC money for that day.Also,
eleven times during the
semester, I will ask you a simple question on the readings, current events, or
lectures.If you answer the question
correctly, your “PAC” will make a contribution of $100.PAC quizzes can earn you as much as $1,100.

So what can PAC money do for you?Depending on how much money your PAC gives
me, you can either make your grade on an exam or paper count for a greater or a
lesser percentage of your final grade or add points to one of your grades.Each $100 you earn allows you to increase or
decrease a grade by .2% or you can increase one grade by .1 points.For example, say you earned all $5,000 by
the end of the semester and you received an A on your midterm.Instead of Midterm #1 counting 25% of your final
grade, it can now count 35% of your final grade.You could then make your final exam, for example, only count 15%
of your final grade.Or, you could
simply choose to add 5 points to one of your grades.However, I am not easy to buy.If you miss more than five classes or get more than four PAC quizzes
incorrect, you do not qualify for PAC money.You must let me know how you want your PAC money spent before you take your final exam.Also, you cannot change the percentage of
more than two grades.PAC money will be
explained in greater detail on the first day of class.

Examples of How PAC Money Can Be Used:

You attend 24 of the 26 class periods$3,600

You
get 9 of the 11 quizzes correct$900

Total
PAC Money$4,500

You receive an A on Midterm #1 and decide that you
do not think that you are going to do very well on the final.Therefore, you decide to make your midterm
count for 34% of your final grade and the final count for 16% of your final
grade.Or, you could simply add 4.5
points to one of your grades.

You
attend 24 of the 26 class periods$3,600

You
get 2 of the 11 quizzes correct$200

Total
PAC Money$3,800

Your contribution does not persuade me to change the
weight of your grades because you got more than 4 PAC quizzes incorrect .

Barbour, Christine and Matthew J. Streb.2004.Clued in to Politics.Boston,

MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Keeping
the Republic
and Clued in to Politics are available at the NIU bookstore.They are far more inexpensive if you use a
website like www.campusi.com.In
addition, you will be required to read The
New York Times or some major national newspaper.The PAC quizzes and multiple-choice questions on your exams will
often cover current events discussed in The Times.You can get The Times through a subscription or for free on the Internet (www.nytimes.com) (registration required).

How Can I do well in this Course?

This course is no more difficult than most other 100 level courses you
have had, if you keep up with the work!!You must attend lectures, keep up with current events, and do all of the readings before class in
order to receive a good grade (doing this does not ensure a good grade,
however!).Also, students are strongly encouraged to ask questions
during lectures or visit me during my office hours.I will be glad to look over rough drafts of papers or go over
possible exam material.Finally,
cheating and plagiarism will not only keep you from learning the material, they
will get you an F in the class and possible suspension or expulsion from
school.See the Student Handbook
for more information on cheating and plagiarism.

Study Skills Workshops:

Twice during the semester, I will hold study skills workshops that are
designed to help you with your papers and exams.Attendance is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged.The dates of the study skills workshops are
listed below.Rooms will be announced.

Monday September 19th3:00-3:30HOW
DO I STUDY FOR A 100 EXAM?

MondayOctober 31st3:00-3:30HOW
DO I WRITE A POLS 100 PAPER?

Statement
Concerning Students with Disabilities:

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
NIU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities. Those students with disabilities that may have some
impact on their coursework and for which they may require accommodations should
notify the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) on the fourth floor of
the Health Services Building. CAAR will assist students in making appropriate
accommodations with course instructors. It is important that CAAR and
instructors be informed of any disability-related needs during the first two
weeks of the semester.

Department
of Political Science Web Site:

Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to consult
the Department of Political Science web site on a regular basis. This
up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in contacting
faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring
graduate study, researching career options, tracking department events, and
accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities.
To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu.

Course Outline:

NOTE:Readings should be finished by class time on
the day they are assigned.For example,
students should have read B&W chapters 1-2 and B&S “Preface to Student”
and “Introduction” by August 25th.